Infusions of Faith
"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always." --Phil. 4:6-8 (TPT)
"My own sheep will hear my voice and I know each one, and they will follow me." --John 10:27 (TPT)
No, I do not mean I am hearing real, audible voices in my head these days (and I do not say this mockingly regarding those who do). But I am talking about negative self-talk, ill-spoken comments from others and lies from the enemy. These "voices" often convey a running narrative that accompanies us throughout the day. These narratives can be so loud that they drown out any words of faith and encouragement we receive; and they may even seem to deafen the promptings of Christ.
Many of the narratives we hear started a long time ago, as a young child, in junior high or high school, or from a past relationship. They bully our thoughts and can become the main "voices" that we listen to, though they are often contrary to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and other faith-filled believers. Without the continual renewing of the mind that Romans 12 talks about, the "voices" we may listen to could all be rooted in the soul without interruption or correction from the Holy Spirit.
Recently, I began counseling sessions to talk through certain narratives or issues I felt the need to process. I found out that many times I lack the vocabulary and skills to adequately express some experiences and emotions that I have. It has been insightful hearing my words reflected back to me from the counselor, as I am being challenged to be more open and authentic. There is so much to share on this topic but any further discussion on this would divert me from what I need to share with you at this time. However, I will share this concept which is helping me think through how to handle my negative "voices" and story lines.
When I was attempting to talk about specific fears, the counselor asked me, "Do you have any evidence of this particular fear (narrative) being real in your life?” As I stopped and reflected, I realized that I had built beliefs about myself and others regarding a hurtful and painful experience. And even though I had truly experienced something, I had moved beyond the experience and continued to let my thoughts run wild about what "might have, could have, and should have" happened.
What I’m trying to say is these negative beliefs built around my painful experiences had somehow overpowered the experiences themselves within my thoughts. Over time, the negative beliefs wielded power over my subsequent actions and behavior. I realized that the power of belief, whether positive or negative, drives a person to think and behave differently, and it can greatly determine a life's course. My point: Pay careful attention to who and what is speaking to you because the narrative you permit influences you, whether it is true or the truth has been stretched.
This may not seem like a revelation or rocket science to you. It sounds simplistic; however, deception is a frequent visitor to belief. Beware! Since we often pride ourselves on our beliefs and morals, our beliefs may actually be image-driven and soulish versus faith-filled. By examining our thoughts and humbly submitting them to God, we can draw close to Him, hear His voice and put the devil on the run. (James 4:6-8) I am praying for genuine faith that carries me through to overcoming -- a faith where I relinquish fearful "beliefs" rooted deep in my soul. In exchange I can cling to the healing, delivering and grace-based narrative God now provides me.
While overcoming the narratives that hinder involves renewing the mind about who God says we are and what we will and can do, please consider these guidelines as you process past pain.
- Know hurtful memories are a mixture of the true facts of an event, our feelings about what happened, and fears about what others think about us after the event. In essence, we remember past events painfully, but also imperfectly.
- We can create a positive perspective through an addendum to a painful memory. For example, we can recognize the lessons learned or empathy shared from the experience versus just ruminating over the emotion of the painful experience.
- We can allow ourselves to forget or let go of a painful memory. Sometimes we may make ourselves remember an experience as a type of memorial to stay on guard -- to keep that pain from happening again. In reality, we torture ourselves with the painful memory over and over. And we cannot control whether someone will hurt us in the same way in the future. Just think, if God can throw my sin into the Sea of Forgetfulness, can He put my painful experiences there, too?
Key Themes:
--Have you checked your narratives lately? Who is speaking? What's being said? Examine whether it is louder than or subject to the voice of God in your life.
--Have you built up walls of negative beliefs around "bad story lines" in your life? Have you submitted your "beliefs" to God? What is God speaking over you?
--Apart from God, people are willfully sinful and self-serving; they will do and say hurtful things that feel very personal. You can choose to take their words and actions personally, but you can also learn to reject people's negativity while still loving them despite their faults.
--Lean into God when you're ready to face painful narratives, realizing He never leaves you to struggle alone in discomfort.
Resources:
--Pray to the loving God regarding your hurts -- He made you and knows how to restore you to wholeness in time.
--https://psychcentral.com/blog/letting-go-of-the-past-why-memories-remain-painful-over-time/
--https://youtu.be/lKw6uqtGFfo
--https://youtu.be/o3VT2bMpoYY
This is right on time. I’ve been having to check my narratives and self talk as of late! I will take with me the thought “is the narrative louder or subject to the voice of God!” Thats powerful!
ReplyDeleteWe are so glad this was helpful in your journey! Stay humble & submitted to God and you will be that much stronger and wiser when negative narratives come around to bully.
DeleteYes, this is soooo good! My biggest take away is that I will submit those negative beliefs to God. I will no longer coddle them, nourish them or ruminate over them. I want to know what God is saying to me about me!
ReplyDeleteI love these 2 songs!
Amen, this is powerful & helpful. Who do men say that I AM? And how should I see myself in Him?
ReplyDelete